It marks a fierce start to a fire season in California that weather forecasters predict will be worsened by a summer of high temperatures and drought throughout much of the US West.

Firefighters at the scene of a blaze. Credit: REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon

The largest of the blazes erupted about 6:30 am, less than 10 miles inland from the Pacific coast, and quickly consumed 6,500 acres of dry, dense shrubland near the communities of Camarillo and Newbury Park, about 50 miles north of Los Angeles.

A trailer is engulfed in flames as a wildfire pushes towards the coast in Camarillo. Credit: REUTERS/Gene Blevins

More than 500 firefighters were dispatched to battle the blaze, along with six water-dropping helicopters.

Airplanes equipped to drop payloads of fire-retardant chemicals were grounded by high winds and thick smoke in the area, officials said.